Pumpkins and Wheels

Using Zoom to Collaborate with Colleagues and Teach Courses

  • by Site Factory admin
Dear Faculty, 

A recent review of existing resources to support faculty’s use of Zoom, a web-conferencing software, unearthed a number of helpful materials to guide faculty in the use of videoconferencing software. These materials can be divided into the two most common ways faculty use Zoom: 1) to collaborate with colleagues and 2) to teach courses. 

Collaborate with Colleagues

The following recommendations can help to ensure successful Zoom collaborations with colleagues: 
  • Start early! Test Zoom before the actual meeting time to ensure that everything is running smoothly. 
  • Be thoughtful of light and sound. Make sure you are facing a source of light (e.g. window, desk lamp). Ensure there are no distracting background noises or interruptions. 
  • Dress appropriately. Clothing with patterns, stripes, or polka dots can be distracting on screen. 
  • Be natural. Zoom provides an excellent opportunity to develop personal connections with colleagues and give your collaborations a human touch. As such, when using Zoom, remember to talk naturally and make eye contact with the camera. 
For more information, check out the following resources:  Teach Courses

Zoom can also be used to facilitate teaching a course. For example, Zoom users can incorporate live lectures into online courses, record lectures, facilitate students’ group work outside of class, host office hours, interview guest speakers, record your desktop to create short instructional videos, or supplement face-to-face lectures. 

Consider these recommendations that can help you integrate Zoom successfully into a course: 
  • Teach students best practices for collaborations via Zoom. It is likely that at some point students will have an interview via a videoconferencing tool. Making sure students know the etiquette for videoconferences will help them increase their confidence for future job interviews as well as remind students how your course can prepare them for future opportunities.
  • Take advantage of built-in tools that support interactivity (e.g., whiteboards, break-out groups, chat). By planning interactivity into the Zoom sessions, you will give students opportunities to engage with each other as well as with you, the instructor. 
  • Pay attention to accessibility when planning the use of Zoom for instruction. Zoom is considered one of the more accessible videoconferencing options, but being considerate of how to use Zoom in accessible ways can benefit all students (such as by captioning recorded videos and providing lecture materials or handouts beforehand). 
For more information, check out the following resources:  I myself use Zoom a few (or a dozen) times a week as a collaborative tool. With Zoom I have been able to build relationships with colleagues across distances and collaborate with researchers across California and the country. These collaborations have resulted in several conference presentations, articles, and a book chapter. By leveraging this tool, I have had the opportunity to participate in research projects with colleagues with whom I otherwise would not have been able to meet or collaborate. 

Best, Alex Rockey

 

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